energy savings at home

Improving your home's energy efficiency with ENERGY STAR can help to lower high energy bills, improve comfort and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Learn about the many ways to save in your home and track your progress with "My ENERGY STAR" - your new dashboard to savings.

new homes & apartments

A new home or apartment that has earned the ENERGY STAR label has undergone a process of inspections, testing, and verification to meet strict requirements set by the US EPA. ENERGY STAR certified homes and apartments use significantly less energy than typical new homes and apartments while delivering better comfort, quality, and durability.

Recycle Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for CFLs. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.earth911.org or epa.gov/bulbrecycling to identify local recycling options.

The Home Depot and IKEA stores take back used, unbroken CFLs for free. Bring the CFLs to the returns desk. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to further expand recycling and disposal options.

If your state or local environmental regulatory agency permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. Never send a fluorescent light bulb or any other mercury-containing product to an incinerator.